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Roof contractors working overtime to keep up with clearing demands

The State Fire Marshal warned about building collapse dangers after heavy snow and ice has accumulated on roofs across the Granite State. But, finding a roof contractor to clear the snow has proven to be difficult. WMUR's Shelley Walcott has more.

The State Fire Marshal warned about building collapse dangers after heavy snow and ice has accumulated on roofs across the Granite State. But, finding a roof contractor to clear the snow has proven to be difficult. WMUR's Shelley Walcott has more.

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Updated: 10:59 PM EST Feb 12, 2015

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WEBVTT WHILE SPEAKING OF SNOW AND ALL THIS BAD WEATHER, HAVE YOU TRIED CALLING A ROOF CONTRACTOR LATELY? ALL THIS SNOW HAS MADE TRYING TO FIND SOMEONE TO CLEAR YOUR ROOF VERY DIFFICULT. WE SPOKE TO SOME SNOW REMOVERS WHO SAY IT COULD TAKE WEEKS TO GET TO YOUR HOUSE. THEY'VE BEEN ANSWERING THE PHONE ALL DAY AT MASTER ROOFERS IN MANCHESTER. WE HAVE BEEN OUT OF CONTROL FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS SINCE THESE STORMS HIT, NONSTOP. NIGHT AND DAY, WEEKENDS, THE WHOLE BUILT. THE SNOWSTORMS AND COLD HAVE CREATED MAJOR PILEUPS ON PEOPLE'S HOUSES AND NOW PANIC IS THROUGH THE ROOF. PRIMARILY CONCERNS FOR WEIGHT ON TOP OF THE ROOFS. ICE DAMS, A LOT OF ICE ALONG THE BOMB EAVES OF THE ROOFS. A LOT OF WATER BACKUP RELATED ISSUES. HE SAYS MANY ROOF CONTRACTORS ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND MASSACHUSETTS ARE NOW WORKING SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, 12 AND 13 HOURS A DAY. AND MOST ARE BOOKED SOLID. MANY NOW SETTING UP APPOINTMENTS WEEKS OUT, IF NAY CAN BOOK ANY APPOINTMENTS AT ALL. THE VOLUME IS JUST MORE THAN WE CAN HANDLE. SO WE HAVE TO TURN SOME PEOPLE AWAY. PEOPLE WHO DON'T EVEN SPECIALIZE IN ROOFS ARE PUSHING SNOW OFF OF STRUCTURES. THESE LANDSCAPERS HAVE BEEN HIRED TO CLEAR SNOW GATHERED BELOW AND ON TOP OF THIS COMMERCIAL PROPERTY. GET ON THE ROOF AND IT'S UP TO MY WAIST DEEP, I CAN BARELY MOVE. HE SAYS HE'S BEEN RECEIVING DOZENS OF PHONE CALLS A WEEK. I'VE ALREADY DONE ROOFS FOR TWO WEEKS STRAIGHT SO FAR. BUT AS BUSY AS ALL THESE CONTRACTORS ARE, THEY SAY PEOPLE FACING EMERGENCIES ARE STILL THEIR FIRST PRIORITIES. THE ICE DAMS ♪ARE CAUSING WATER TO BACK UP INTO THE HOUSE, LEAKING INTO ELECTRICAL PANELS CAUSING CEILINGS TO FALL IN. WE TRY TO PRIORITIZE EMERGENCIES BEFORE JUST NORMAL CONCERNS. WE DO THE BEST WE CAN. THE CONTRACTORS WE SPOKE WITH SAY THERE ARE INDICATORS THAT YOUR ROOF IS GETTING TOO WEIGHED DOWN WITH SNOW, YOU SHOULD CHECK INTERIOR DOORS FOR STICKING, AND

Roof contractors working overtime to keep up with clearing demands

The State Fire Marshal warned about building collapse dangers after heavy snow and ice has accumulated on roofs across the Granite State. But, finding a roof contractor to clear the snow has proven to be difficult. WMUR's Shelley Walcott has more.